Ironing-machine



L. H. FREEMAN.

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2g, I9I5.

1,336,427'. I Patented Apr.13,192o.

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l zzz/52212721 HM How( L. H. FREEMAN.

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26,`1915.

1,336,452?,- Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.V

1/ ,gj/fw@ H. FREEMAN.,

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26, 1.915.

1,336,427. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

74 67 66 54 die 72 MVT/255555.-

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rrnn sra-'riss rarnnr oss-iron LADBROGK II. FREEMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIQ, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE SSIGNMENTS,

T0 THE FIR-ST TRUST & SAVINGS COMPANY, TRUSTEE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR- PGIl/ATIGN OF OHIO.

morfine-MACHINE.

assenza Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten am is, ieee.

To all lwlw/1L t may concern:

Be it known that I, LADBnooK H. FREE-- wax, a citizen ol the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State 0f Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-Machines, otl which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates generally to ironing machinery, and particularly to ironing presses.

More specifically the invention relates to an ironing press` comprising an ironing board, a spreading plate, removably secured to said board, an'ironing chest, having the proper configuration forcoperation with the spreading plate together with a neck band Jtormed of the adjustable type, arranged upon the board and the spreading plate and adapted to cooperate with the neck band recesses formed in the ironing chest, suitable mechanism being provided for manipulating the parts. rlhe invention also relates to back yoke corner ironing mechanism arranged in conjunction with the chest. Y

,The invention may be further brieiiy summarized as consisting in the construction and combination oit parts hereinafter set forth in the following description, drawings and claims.

1 Referring to the drawings5 Figure 1 is a top plan view of a press constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the board; Fig. 3 is a. rear elevation with parts broken away; Fig. -l is a crobs section through the board and spreading plate; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the neck band end ot' the board showing Athe stops for the cornery ironer; Fig. 6 ig an essary characteristics, but I have shown one arrangement which is eective and in such embodiment 1 represents the baseprovided with av pair ot' standards or uprights 2. t thc rear ot' the base there is an ironing chest support frame member 3 and at the front another such member t. The upper ends of these members 3 and e are provided with bearings 5 and G respectively and these bearings support an ironing chest supporting shaft 7 upon which the ironing chest to be described is mounted.

Each of the standards or uprights 2 is provided with a complete ironing board and neck band former mechanism, and a description of one will suiice for both. Each oct the Standards 2 is provided at its upper end with a table portion 8 having holes therein toi-'receivii'ig bolts i), cach oiu which receives around it a coiled spring i0. Engaging the upper ends of these coiled springs is an ironing board supporting member Il having a longitudinally disposed curved rail portion l2 having in its upper edge a halfround groove adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped bead 12% arranged upon the underside and at the center oi an iron* ing` board l ses Fig. 4. This ironing board is adapted to slide longitudinally upon its supportand suitable mechanism may be provided for this pm'pose. @his mechanism comprises an arm l5, an operating sha-tt 16 connected to an operating lever structure 17 of any suitable construction, such structure being unimportant in so far as4 the merits ot this case are concerned. Yrihe rail portion ot the ironing board supporting member is provided at its rear with a pair of bosses i8, each of which receives a pin 19 projecting up through a slot 2O in the board to a point above the same tor a purpose to be described.

llngagingthe upper surface of the ironing board is a spreading plate 2l of substantially the configuration shown in the lett-hand portion of Fig. l, wherein the spreading plate 2l is shown gradually increasing in width from the neckband end of the board to the forward or skirt end. This spreadingl plate is held in place by suitable screws '22 passing into the board. Along both side edges the spreading plate is` turned down to form flanges 23 to give strength and rigidity to the plate structure. rThe plate 21 is further provided near the neck band end with slots :24 adapted to receive the upwardly extending pins 19.

Arranged upon the upper surface of the spreading plate near the neck baud end is a neck band former which may be of any preferred construction so long as it is of an adjustable type.v I have shown one arrangement, however, which is in accordance with my idea, and in such embodiment 25 represents-a base plate of a configuration corresponding to the Manhattan shaped neck band and having two parallel slots 26 arranged one on each side of the centersand in a proper position to receive the pins 19. Secured to the base plate 25 and at substantially the center between the slots 2G is a T-shaped guide bar 27 and on each side of this guide bar and in the rear portion of the plate itis provided with transversely extending T-shaped guide bars 28 and 29. Slidably mounted upon the T-shaped guide bar 27 is the forward curved front portion 30 of the neck band former and this member is provided'with openings 31 connecting with sleeves 31 for receiving the upper ends of the pins 19. This forward curved neck band portion 30 is straight across its rear with a center extension 32 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Each of the guide bars 28, 29 has slidably mounted upon it a necklband foot portion 33 and these portions are adapted to move in and out transversely in the expanding of the neck band former.

In order to adjust the neck' band former to various sizes of neck bands it isnecessary to move the foot portions outward transversely as above stated, and at the same time to move them bodily backward with the board and with the base 25 so that the forward curved portion will perform its part 'of the adjusting operation, Iand this mechanism comprises a link 34 pivoted upon a screw 35 secured in the right-hand foot portion 33 at one end and pi'votally connected at its opposite end by means of a screw 36 to a short arm 37 of a bell crank lever having its operating arm 38 provided with a slot 39 adapted to engage the stud 40 mounted in the extension 32 of the forward curved portion 30. The other foot portion 33, or the one to the left as shown in`Fig. 8, is pivoted by means of a screw 41 to a link 42 which lies under the link34 and is at its offset end pivotally connected to the short arm 43 of a neck band crank lever havingij;

gaging the stud 40 which as before stated is secured in a central extension 32 of the curved forward portion of the neck band former. l

In order to bring about the proper operation of the neck band former it is necessary that the base plate 25 should move with the board and to accomplish this result this base plate is provided with a cleat 46, Fig. 9, on its underside near the rear, and this cleat has a pin 47 passing down through the parts and into the ironing board at the neck band end.

From the foregoing construction of the ironing board, its' support and the neck band former with its yvarious connections with the board and support, it will be seen that the forward curved portion 30 of the 70 neck band former will be held against longitudinal movement withv the board since the pins 19 pass into the support and pass through slots in theboard and in the spreading plate and since the base'25 of the neck band former is adapted to move with the board then there will be a relative movement between the base vcarrying the foot portions and the forward curved portion of the neck band former, with the result that by movement of the board the neck band former is adjusted to various sizes of neck bands. The levers and link of the neck band former bring about the proper operation of the foot portions.

Keyed to the shaft 7 is a pair of brackets 47 and 48, the former being arranged near the bearing -6 and the latter near the bearing 5, and these brackets are formed integral with a steam chest 49, which is preferably hollow, and is supplied with steam in any suitable manner. This chest is of substantially the configuration of the spreading plate 21 and is provided at the small end with a spread U-shaped neck band recess 9.5 50 with the walls of the recess cut back in V-shaped formation, as shown at 51 in Fig.

6. The curved portion of the recess at the crotch is adapted to fit the forward curved portion of the neck band former and as the latter is adjusted the foot portions` move back diagonally along the straight side portions of this recess, as is usual in machines of this type.

The ironing chest is double-faced and is adapted to engagey either of the two boards provided upon the base and the shaft 7 is operated to swing the chest through its various positions by means of a handle 52, the chest and the shaft being offset by a counterbalance weight 53 supported upon the hub l54 secured to the shaft 7 outside of the bearing 5. I n order to cause the chest to press tightly upon the board, the

v hub 54 provided with a pair of diametri- 115 cally disposed 1 arms 55 each of which is its other arm 44 provided with a slot 45 Provided With fLl-lm @nd Portion 56 adapted for engagement'with a cam 57 mounted above a cam shaft 58 supported in suitable bearing brackets 59 secured to the base.

In machines of this character the board is arranged so that the entire bosom andthe portionsof the yoke lying at each side of the neck band are ironed flat by the chest with the neck band standing up from a plane coincident with the plane of thebosom and on account of the adjustable features of the neck band former the ironing chest at the neck band 'recess will leave back corner portions lying to the rear of the back round corner of the neck band unfinished. Mechanism is provided for ironing these back corners and this mechanism comprises a pair of blocks 60l which are slidably mounted upon the chest at the straight sides of the neck band recess. Each of these blocks 60 includes an ironing portion having a curved face 61 forengaging the face of the corresponding foot portion 33 of the neck band former and a flat inner face 62 for engagement with the finished edges 63 of the chest at the neck band recess. Each block is further provided with side flanges 64 and 65 which engage over the two faces of the chest to guide the ironing portion along the edge of the chest at this point and in order to hold these parts in place the chest is provided upon both of its faces` with strips 66 engaging in a recess 67 formed in the flanges 64 and 65. In this way the blocks slide freely upon the edges of the lside portion of the neck band former recess and may therefore be moved to and from the neck band former. In -order to limit the inward movement of the blocks each is provided with a strip 68 secured to one of the flanges 64 and 65, extended out beyond the end of the chest and there provided with an upturned portion 69 for engagement with the end of the chest. This stop limits the inward movement of the block. The outward movement of each block is limited by a plate 70 secured to the end of the chest in a position to engage the other flange of the block and this plate is held in place by a suitable screw 71.

The] mechanism for manipulating the blocks 60 comprises a pair of-connecting .bars 72, each provided at both of its ends a; pin 74 mounted in the flange of the corresponding block 60. One of these bars 72 is' arranged on each side of the chest and they are connected at their center by a bolt 75 passingl loosely through an opening in a spacing sleeve 76. Forming part of sleeve 76 is an arm 77 provided with ears 78 adapted to receivel a pin 79 passing through an operating lever 8O which is arranged between the ears. The lever 80 is pivoted toward the shaft 7 upon a pin 81. arranged inears 82 preferably formed integral with a bracket 48. |The opposite end of the lever is provided with a handle 83 bent back toward the front of the lever so as to be accessible to the operator. Beyond the pivot 81 the lever 80is provided with a tail portion 84'adapted to engage a cam flange 85 formed upon a block 86 secured to the bearing This cam flange 85 is provided at Iloo-th of its ends with diverging cam flanges 87 for the purpose of vguiding the tail portion 84 on to the cam flange 85. When the chestl is in engagement with one of the boards the tail portion 84 `ivith slots 73. Each of these slots engagesy of the lever 80 is at one end of the cam flange as shown in Fig. 1 but when the chest is elevated into the vertical position the tail portion 84 engages the diverging cam flange portion 87 and directs such tail portion against the cam flange 85. This causes the lever 80 to be swung lbackward and through its connection with the blocks they will be moved to the rear also.

The back corner ironer is utilized in the following manner: lVhen the forward ends of the neck band have been coupled as by any suitable hook or like device and placed upon the neck band former and-adjusted thereto and the neck band former adjusted by shifting the board through the manipulation of the lever 17 and thereafter locked by the stud 40, and further when ythe bosom has been spread and laid nicely upon the board. the operator swings the chest from either the lother board or from vertical position down against the bosom, when the handle 83 is grasped and the back corner ironing blocks are moved in so that their curved faces 61 engage the foot portions of the neck band former. The operator may then bring about the operation upon the pressing mechanism already described with the resultl that the entire bosom including the side portions of the yoke and the back corners lying between the folding line and the rear curved corners of the neck band are all pressed. The folding line7 referred to is a line well known and understood in this art, being a line of fold in the yoke portion of the garment extending laterally toward bot-h sides from itsI middle and substantially tangent to the back of the neck-band.

This mechanism is particularly adaptable. for ironing open bosom shirts with the portions of the bosom spread, that is the portions of the bosom are not but/toned or fastened in the usual way but the parts are spread so as to do away with the necessity of ironing the button strip under the plait by a metal strip or other means.

In ironing a. shirt in this manner the bosom is spread and the neckband with its ends 'spread is placed upon the neckband former so that none of the parts over-lap and they may be held in the manner in any suitable way if desired as by a double hooked wire engaging in the two button holes or by any of the well known clamping devices utilized on neckband formers. The shirt bosom including the sides of the yoke are spread nicely so that the side portions of the bosom assume their natural position upon the board which is with them spread well from 'each otherthus doing away with the necessity of utilizing a button ironing strip or any other means at'this point. The sides of the board extending at an angle to each other assist very materially in locating the portions of the bosom inasmuch as these portions throughout the various sizes will lay and the. portions of the yoke lyingat the sides of the neck-band. l

A machine for ironing open front shirts ivi-th the v,front portions spread in diverging rela-tion, said machine having a board increasing in Width from the neck-band end toward the tail end and at the neck-band end havinc' the proper width to fit Within the upper portion of a small size shirt withont distorting its front portions, -an adjustable neck-band support on said board having its rear edge portion coincident with the neck-band end thereof, an ironing chest,

and means for producing relative ironing movement betvveen said chest and board.

3. A machine for ironing open front shirts with the front portions spread in diverging relation, said machine having 'a board in creasingin width from the neck-band end toward the tail end and at the neck-band end having the proper width to fit Within the upper portion of a. small size shirt without distorting its front portions, and toward its tail end having the proper width t0 permit sufficient divergence of the shirt front portions Without distortion, an adjustable neckband support on said board having its rear edge portion coincident with the neck-band end thereof, an ironing chest, and means for producing relative ironing movement between said chest and board.

4. In an ironing machine, an ironing board, means thereon for supporting the neck-band `of a coat shirt, the neck-band end of said board extending transversely thereof and lying substantially tangent to the back of the neck-band support and thereby forming a folding line in the yoke of a shirt, said board increasing in Width from the neckband end toward the tail end whereby the front portions of the shirt may be spreadA upon said board and the lines of fold in the shint yoke in both directions laterally while so spread are 'angularly disposed to their final positions when the shirt is folded up, and means coperatively related with said board for ironing the bosom and portions of the yoke lying at the sides of the neckband.

5. In an ironing press, a frame, a standard, an ironing board s up ort carried thereby, an ironing board slida ly mounted upon said support, an ironing plate secured to the upper face of said board, and an adjustable neckband former comprising a forward curved portion and rear foot portions, connections between the forward curved portion and the ironing board support, connections between the foot portions and the ironing board, an ironing chest cooperating with said ironing plate having a neck band former, and means for manipulating said chest. V

6. In an ironing press, a frame, an ironing boa-rd, an adjustable neck band former mounted upon said board, an ironing chest. back corner ironing devices carried by said chest, means for manipulating the same, and means for manipulating the chest.

7. In an ironing press, a frame, an ironing board mounted thereon, an adjustable neckband former mounted upon said board and comprising a` forwardcurved portion and rounded back corner portion, the rounded back corner portions touching the neck band end of the board, an ironing chest having a neck band former recess with diver-ging sides, back corner lironing devices slidably mounted at the edges of the side port-ions of the neckband recess` means for manipulating said devices, and means for manipulating the chest.

8. In an ironing press, a frame, an ironing board mounted thereon, an adjustable neck band forme-r mounted upon said board and comprising a forward curved portion and rounded back corner portion, the rounded back corner portions touching the neck band end of vthe board, an ironing chest having neck band former recess With diverging sides, a pair of back corner ironing blocks, one slida'bly mounted upon eac-h of the edges ofthe side portions of the neck band former recess, means for manipulating said blocks, and means for manipulating the chest.

9. In an ironing press, a frame, an ironing board mounted thereon, an adjustable neck band former mounted upon said board and comprising a forward curved portion and rounded back corner portion, the rounded back corner port-ions touching the neck band end of the board, an ironing chest having neck band former recess with diverging sides,Y a pair of back corner ironing blocks, one slidably mounted upon each of the edges of the side portions of the neck band former recess, bars connecting said blocks, an operating lever connected to said bars, means for automatically shifting said blocks outward upon the elevation of the chest from the board, and means for manipulating said chest.

10. In an ironing press, a frame, an ironing board mounted thereon, an adjustable neck band former mounted upon said board and comprising a forward curved portion and rounded back corner portion, the rounded`back corner portions touching the neck band end of the board7 an ironing chest having a neck band former recess with diverging sides, a pair of back corner ironing blocks', one slidzrbly mounted upon each of the edges of the side portions of the neck band former recess, bars connecting said blocks, an operating lever connected to said bars, a'czun carried by the frame ,adapted to l0 engage said lever and move the blocks out- LADBROOK H. FREEMAN.

lVitnesses G. O. FARQUHARSON, C. H. SHOTZBARGER. 

